The Breakfast Club
Categories: Diners, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
Neighborhood: Allston/Brighton270 Western Ave
(between Riverdale St & Speedway Ave)
Allston, MA 02134 (617) 783-1212
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Private Lot
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: No
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Breakfast
- Alcohol: None
51 Reviews for The Breakfast Club
One of my favorite places. On the planet.
It's so simple but it gets it right.
It's decorated and themed like the movie, the breakfast specials all named after a character. Service is always fast and to the point and the food is on your table before you finish half of your coffee.
If anyone wants to bring me some food ill have:
A criminal over hard with sausage hold the toast, coffee and OJ, please.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (1)
Cool (2)
5 Stars for the best blueberry pancakes I have ever had! Mmm.
I came in here for a late weekend breakfast. I had heard from a friend they were going for breakfast and I had no idea where it was, even though I live within a mile of it. I had driven by it who knows how many times and it never really caught my eye. So I tried it out and yum. My boyfriend had a bacon egg and cheese on an English muffin and he said it was great too. The homefries and coffee were also fab.
I especialy liked the whole 80's vibe to it. The music and staff were upbeat too. It's very small so you may have to wait but its worth it for a home cooked diner breakfast on the weekend. I'll be back!!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
We waited about 20 minutes at 10:30ish this morning, which seemed reasonable for a Saturday brunch-ish hour. The weather was nice enough, and we brought the paper to keep us entertained. The food was plentiful for the price, and exactly what should be expected from a diner. Homefries were red potatoes, cooked just right, eggs in the florentine benedict were poached properly, coffee was refilled just in time and quite good for diner coffee, bacon was bacony. The service also gets a shout out for being friendly and looking efficient, and the server behind us very patiently explained the whole menu to blind patrons. Yay.
I freaking love the breakfast club. Yeah, its a greasy spoon side-car diner, and you do get yelled at for singing along with all the amazing 80's music, but isn't that the whole point? Honestly, where else can you get a solid dose of some of the best music of the 1980's and some of the most amazing chocolate chip pancakes and over easy eggs for under 10 bucks? If you haven't been you should go. It will change your life.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Good breakfast. Good coffee. Good Vibe.
Plenty of parking.
This is my favorite breakfast place in Boston! Really cheap, and very good breakfast! Serves the traditional breakfast fare - Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, Home fries, Pancakes, etc. The coffee is good too!
This place has great personality!
Delicious diner breakfast food. I would not rate it with the fancy-pants diners like Deluxe town diner in Watertown. This is a diner with a schtick and good breakfast food. Booths are uncomfortable, of course- it's a diner.
The owner skeeves me out. Go there looking like you slept in your clothes from dancin at the kells...make sure you wear your low-rise jeans and expose your butt cleavage when you sit at their counter. I think the food always is consistently sub-par and their waitstaff always looks pissed to be there. Go down the street to Shaw's buy some eggs, bacon, etc and make your own little breakfast club at home.
People thought this was:
Useful (5)
Funny (7)
Cool (3)
Even from the outside, the place is diner-cool. I like the logo. We walked in and learned that there was a wait, no list, and you seat yourself. We were happily surprised by the fact that 1. the wait was pretty short and 2. people were really cool about waiting. The group in front of us wanted a booth, and the couple behind us were going to take the counter seats but offered them to us first. Very nice.
I usually stick to a standard two-egg breakfast. But I decided to branch out and try the "detention' breakfast with their 'famous' steak tips. My companion got some triple-meat omlette and was happy with it--until he tried the steak tips. They were SO delicious! The service was incredibly quick; we barely waited for our food. It was made-to-order, as we watched them make it behind the counter.
The only negative: we never got our coffee refilled. It was hard to get someone's attention, since all the servers are hustling with such a busy restaurant. I'm not sure we had one server. Someone took our order, a different person brought out each breakfast (one was served directly from the chef). After we were finished, we finally got a refill. But with empty plates and a line out the door, we felt guilty sitting around and sipping coffee. Others were doing it, so maybe next time we'll get over that.
I'll be back for the steak tips again...
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (2)
The breakfast club has been my favorite breakfast spot in Boston since before I moved here. The prices are super reasonable, the smoothies are yummy, the steak is reliably good. They serve on fiestaware (and I love fiestaware). It's a small-small place (in a traditional diner way) and it's seat yourself- so the wait can be long.
Also- the 80s tunes on tap are fab and the movie posters on the ceiling are a walk down memory lane.
People thought this was:
Cool (1)
Just had a great breakfast here. The Detention (Steak tips, eggs, home fries, and toast) was $8. Seriously good steak tips for that kind of cash is a rare find.
Plus the gf bopped to the selection of not awful 80's tunes the whole way through the meal, and she's real cute when she does that.
The coffee was not great, but the waitress brought us grape jelly without me asking which means she was psychic.
People thought this was:
Funny (1)
If your hungover and are craving a nice, greasy, all-American breakfast than this is the place to go! They have it all, hash browns, eggs, home fries, toast, coffee, OJ... It's all greasy, but who cares....
The food itself comes quickly and tastes good and you might have to sit next to a stranger at the bar in order to get served since the place gets packed, especially in the mornings. If such were to be the case, you'll probably hear about their binge drinking; it's entertaining.
Regardless of that, the place itself is.... as you might have guessed, themed upon the movie the "Breakfast Club" and they have even named some of their specials accordingly: "The Jock", "The Nerd", etc... Cute. Adorable even.
And they keep everyone listening to some awesome 80's rock. That I love. I adore it. Place is great.
Great little breakfast place. Had to wait a bit to be seated, but it was worth the whole 5 minutes. While seated at the bar, we watched the chefs cook breakfast right in front of us, which provided some great entertainment while waiting with baited breath for our food - which was delicious. The music was kind of loud, but there were some great tunes. I'd definitely go back.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
this past sunday, around noon, i cheated on my girlfriend.
not my real girlfriend (she was present). but my favorite brunch place, the Deluxe Town Diner. granted, i've cheated in the past, usually with Petit Robert, but that's only once in a while when i want to be treated especially nice outside of the comforting arms of my favorite corner booth.
but now everything has changed. a steady playlist of 80's hits pumping into the Breakfast Club loud enough for everyone to really hear (no straining to hear "In Your Eyes"!), posters for my favorite brat pack flicks above, and a clean floor below, and friendly staff (someone behind the counter sincerely wanted to take my loud roommates picture when he shouted victoriously over some small feat and did a fist pump). i was already starting to sweat with the guilty heat of infidelity.
i checked out the menu... chocolate chip french toast! gulp! fresh squeeze orange juice... ahhh! and wait, what's this? "The Basket Case"? I usually don't order the breakfast specials anywhere. but... corned beef hash, home fries, french toast (with chocolate chips, please!), AND two eggs any style.... for less that 7 bucks?
...okay, so the price has nothing to do with it. or the eggs. french toast. chocolate chips. etc, etc. i wanted a breakfast named after Ally Sheedy. who just happened to be staring down at me from the poster over my roommate's head. so adorable. whatever happened to her? high art. that's what.
the worst part is... the food was GREAT. the homefries don't quite compare to those of the Deluxe... but the price and portions and taste all make the breakfast club so worthwhile.
it's brighter, cleaner, and livelier than the Deluxe. so why do i feel so dirty?
(don't worry Deluxe... as long as you keep making me my chocolate chip ployes, you'll still have my heart!)
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (2)
Cool (1)
I'll take the phycho-path over-easy please! How can you not love a menu that is a nod to one of the best 80's movies ever?
Besides the shtick, the breakfast club is just average. Typical greasy spoon but cheap. If you go on the weekend, be prepared to be entertained by "oh my god I did what?!?! last night" stories while you wait in a long line for a seat.
I really love going here, but I usually regret my desicion a half hour after eating. Maybe 2.5 stars?
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Amazing breakfast spot, one of the best in Boston. Not the fanciest, not the best service in the world.. but was it has, it does well. Greasy breakfast food, reasonably priced. Mostly great service, cool waitresses. Good location, easy parking. Closes at 2pm however.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
This is my new favorite diner! It's in the elite category with Deluxe Town Diner and Johnny's, and it gets the edge because it's so close.
I love the theme - it's just as anyone who grew up in the 80's would expect. Last time we went there they were playing heavy metal from the 80's, and it was like I was back in high school. I got the pumpkin pancakes last time, and the "basket case" the time before that, both were delicious. They're pretty busy on weekends, and it's free-for-all, honor system seating, but they also have a nice long counter which usually moves pretty quickly, if you're in a party of 1 or 2.
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Cool (2)
I love diners, despite the fact that I grew up in a place whose only diner is a truck stop. I also looooove breakfast and am constantly looking for places I can roll out of bed and head to for a delicious plate of bacon, eggs and home fries. The Breakfast Club fits the bill. I've never been here on a weekend, so I can't vouch for the wait, but honestly, it scares me due to the size of the place. There's about 6-8 booths and a counter. That's it. TINY. But awesome. Where else can I rock out to Toni Basil while devouring a gigantic plate of perfectly cooked bacon, eggs, potatoes and toast for a grand total of $4.50? The coffee was good too. No one judged my sloppy attire of sweatpants, sweatshirt and Uggs either ( I know, I know. I'm one of THEM).
Service was fantastic, and I look forward to many more mornings (or realistically, afternoons) at The Breakfast Club.
This review makes me sad to write.
I've been itching to get back to this diner for months. I've been whining and pouting when plans and timelines didn't work out to allow us to go. I've been gushing about my first time there, and how I couldn't wait to go back to the music and the decor.
Finally, this past weekend, we made it back. At first I thought maybe it was a case of over-hyping something to the point where it can't possibly live up to one's expectations, but even objectively, I couldn't believe the plate before me.
Homefries, typically notable here as being crispy and hot, were cool and mushy and if there had been a couch nearby, I'm sure they'd have headed over to loaf around being... well... couch potatoes.
Limp bacon lazed alongside cool, slug-like sausage links.
My over-medium eggs? Well, I never really considered eggs to be very energetic, but they too gave the impression of being lethargic, almost as if they'd been out drinking all night and were now expected to give an early-morning presentation without benefit of coffee or even a shower.
The tepid toast came pre-buttered, which is a good thing, since there's a distinct possibility that the toast could actually have been used to chill a beverage if one used their slice as a coaster.
Not only was I disappointed in my breakfast, I was pretty embarrassed. I'd been raving about this place for so long that it bordered on obsessive.
On such a brutally, bitterly cold Saturday morning, a piping hot, satisfying meal would have really hit the spot. It's too bad we didn't find that here, this weekend. This is one breakfast spot we won't be hitting again anytime soon.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (2)
Well, I don't have must to add seeing that I am the 29th person to review, but I do think that this is one of the more rundown diners I've been to. Putting red tape on the seats of the booths to cover up the ripes, lame. I did enjoy my janitor (eggs over corned beef) and my cup of Joe. I've always been a fan of 80's music, it reminds me of my big bros Luuuv Van. And I enjoy the fact that the waitress wasn't over her 30's and she still called me Hon...nice.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
I like breakfast. I could eat it all the damned time, because it's perfectly good all the time. That being said, I'm probably bias because I (1) love breakfast, see above, (2) love the 80s, and, (3) love being called honey and darlin'.
So, it's not the best place in the world for breakfast, but it's pretty solid. Pancakes, slices of ham bigger than my hand and sweet/spicy sausages! Breakfast of champions, I tell you. Most importantly, their home fries don't suck. Now, for you breakfast people out there, you know exactly what I'm talking about, they can really suck and ruin your entire breakfast, or they can rock and be your favorite part.
I kind of love this place for all its weirdness. I'll likely never stop going.
Underwhelming, unexceptional diner fare. I ordered a strawberry Belgian waffle with bacon, which I tried to get cooked to order -- no luck. If there's one thing any restaurant that purports to be all about breakfast ought to be able to get right, it's bacon. Not only was mine not cooked to order, I don't think it could have been -- it was thin enough to read a newspaper through. Neither the strawberries nor the waffle was particularly flavorful, either. This place needs to try harder (except with the theme -- in this respect, it tries too hard).
The fact that many of the reviews that give this restaurant a high rating make a virtue out of mediocrity speaks volumes.
After 5 years, I went back to Boston for a visit and my friend bought me to the Breakfast Diner.
The food was good, the decor was interesting --- Movie Posters on the ceiling. For less than $10/person, you get a really full/well cooked breakfast.
My only complain is the service. It was a weekday morning at around 10am, the place was full of people, the food took forever to show up and when we pay bill, they gave back a $10 note even after i asked for breaking it.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (1)
I love this breakfast/lunch diner. Weekends tend to have a long wait, so if you're going, try to early or late and not during peak brunch hours. Food is good. The menu is kind of silly with offerings like "the nerd" (toast with home fries and eggs) and "the princess" (I think that was the Belgium waffles), but who cares. The music is usually a little loud, but I think it's always 80s music so I'm not totally annoyed. I've never had a problem with the waitstaff. I was actually really impressed when one girl recognized me and my friend even though we hadn't been there in months. This place is cash only.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Damn good breakfast place.
Can't be beat for fast, affordable, usually friendly service.
Jenny, the cute tattooed waitress, is the best.
Can be very busy on weekends, usually easy to get into on weekday mornings.
Showing some signs of aging, (I don't think they are making anymore diners, probably haven't for 30 years) but it is clean and it works.
To recover from slash celebrate the hell-like experience of moving from Somerville to Brighton, the BF and I went to the breakfast club this morning. Yeah, we had been there before - but this was my first visit as an official resident of Brighton, so it was special.
Happy to say, it did not disappoint. It's similar to Kelly's in Ball Sq in Somerville, only the waitresses are younger and they play 80s music. At Kelly's the waitresses are older, and they play pop. At both establishments the quality of service depends on the waitress you happen to get. Sitting at the bar is highly recommended either way, just so you don't have to wait as long to eat!
As for the food - I like Kelly's a little more than the Breakfast club, thought their home fries are good. Kelly's just seems.. fresher. Better combos. That being said, there's not such a big difference that i'm going to drive allllllll the way across the river to go to Kelly's instead of the Breakfast Club when I want to get my fix.
Boy this river business is getting complicated. I'm not going to let my breakfasts get that way, though.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (2)
I live down the street for over a year and didn't make my first appearance until this past Sunday. How did I not manage to go here before? It was sooooo busy we had about a 10 minute wait and finally got to sit down at the counter.
My friend and I started singing along to Madonna's Material Girl and the cooks laughed at us and then informed us of the $5 sing a long fee. So we shut up kinda quick - not 100% sure if they were joking or not.
But the best part of all is they put REAL strawberries in the pancakes. The sausages were piping hot off the grill, as was everything, amazing breakfast! I have to admit to a bit of nostalgia though. I used to cook Sunday Brunch at a restaurant I worked at. Those were some good times! Reese's Pieces Pancakes anyone?
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
I always forget about this place.
I know what you're thinking: An 80's themed diner only a 10 minute walk from my house... How could I forget?!
Well anyway I remembered this past Saturday when I had 2 hungry Atlanta roller girls staying at my house. We headed down there and were surprisingly seated right away (there was 6 of us). My only complaint is that we were sat at the counter and it's really hard to hold a conversation when you have to talk over the heads of 5 other people. Our waitress was friendly and very patient. I got one of the themed breakfasts (I think it was The Basket Case). Our food was ready in what seemed like minutes after we ordered. The food was decent, nothing spectacular but not in any way bad. From what I remember everyone was pleased and one of the girls even ordered another meal when she was finished (I'm interested in knowing where she put it all b/c she only weighed like 100lbs!).
I've been there a few other times before and have always been happy with the experience. If you're looking for somewhere fun to go for breakfast than this is definitely the place.
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (2)
Cool (4)
You guessed it. Plastered walls of Judd Nelson and Molly Ringwald. The menu items are cheesy 80's word play, which I love. I don't remember enjoying the food, as much as the actual theme itself. I remember being able to read the paper, which I enjoy while waiting for my breakfast. It's not my favorite breakfast diner, but it's nostalgic. I'll probably go back.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (1)
Cool (2)
Are you a child of the 80's, and a John Hughes fan?
Looking for simple but well made breakfast fare?
Try this cute diner. You'll be charmed by the dishes called "the criminal," "the princess," "the basket case," and all the other characters in the movie. Food came quickly, and was made right in front of me by one of the most efficient cooks I've ever seen. No stringy, wimpy hash browns here!! Huge chunks of crispy potatoes.
Warning: accommodations for large groups (more than 4) might be tough, as booth seating seems limited. Also, come early (before 1030a) if you want to be seated quickly. There's a line out the door by 1045a.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Good, cheap breakfasts...lines on the week ends, but get there before 10am and you should get in without much of a wait...and it will be worth it.
Average menu, no surprises...unless there's a special on the chalk board.
And keep your group to 4 people...you'll never get space together for a larger group.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (1)
How cool is an 1980's themed diner? Eating your cheap eggs and toast while moon walking and solving your Rubic Cube. No frills menu here.
Come early as it can get crowded fast.
Check out my Yelp list for other cool New England Diners.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
So many people except so much from diners.....ITS A DINER ITS NOT SUPPOSE TO BE NICE! Duct tape on seats? Your lucky you're not getting poked in the back by the springs. Bad service? Be happy they said something to you. If you expect spectacular food from a diner, you've bviously never been to a diner. Coming from the diner capital of the world (good ol' Worcester, MA) I know a thing or two about diners. It's not as good as the diner's back at home (Miss Worcester) but this place definately reminded me of home. I'm glad it's relatively close to where i live (I still have to take the bus unfortunately) but it's closer than Mike's city diner. The food was great DINER food, but obviously not great restaurant food. People expect way too much when they go to a diner, just enjoy the greasy spoon it is. I give this place 5 stars because it's the best diner that I've been too that's close to where i live and reminds me of home.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Really 3.5 stars, but I'm bumping it up just for the theme. Come on, everyone loves a John Hughes' film.
Like other people have said, the food here is solid. Not spectacular, but solid. I never have any complaints about my eggs, toast, and homefries here, nor have any of my dining companions.
I don't find the place to be that expensive, but I'm pretty basic when it comes to breakfast--most places are pretty reasonable about the eggs-toast-homefries combo.
The place doesn't blow my socks off, but I love diners, eggs, and John Hughes' films, so 4 stars.
People thought this was:
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
I think overall this place is really good.
The whole place is themed with the 80's movie The Breakfast Club. They have an autographed poster from the movie, and the menu features items like "The Jerk", "The Jock", "The Princess", "The Dork", and "The Basketcase". They used to play 80's music too, but lately they've been playing more modern stuff which kind of sucks. I don't know if they're under new management or something, but it used to be better than it is now.
My favorite on the menu is "The Princess" this is a belgian waffle served piled high with fresh fruit, like chopped melon, strawberry, banana, and anything else in season, then they add ready-whip on top of that! I love how the fruit is actually fresh and ripe, not from a can, not too green, perfect. Oh and if you like frappes, you've got to try the "Fluffernutter"!
The service is not overly friendly, but not rude either. Just service. Don't be afraid to speak up if you need something too because they don't really check up on you once you get your order.
The Diner itself is beautiful. Red with chrome accents. A lot of it looks original, and it's in great condition. If you're a diner buff it's worth checking out.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Won't it be amazing when the Oldies station plays Adam Ant and Yaz instead of the Moody Blues? Get a glimpse of the glorious future in store at the Breakfast Club, where the music is 80's and the diner food is pretty damn good.
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Rapidly become a Sunday morning staple for me...
When I lived in Providence (please, don't judge me) I used to go to this great diner in a dining car on the edge of town...then I move to Cambridge near Porter Square and started going to Rosebud's in Davis Square. A lot of fun, but crappy coffee and so-so food...
...then a friend told me about this diner in Allston that a friend of her's had as a client (she made the cool sunny-side-up egg logo).... I went. I'm in. All the way...
...this is why god made greasy spoons: high caloric eggs, steak tips that have been marinating sine the Carter administration, an 80's theme (yeah, yeah...I know...bite me, ok?), and obnoxious backchatter from the grill chefs. Plus - the coffee kicks butt!
When you go there, try the "Detension." Steak and eggs never tasted that good before...
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (1)
Breakfast club is one of my favorite breakfast diner. They close after lunch. I like the cleanliness of their place. Just location, you have to drive there. I have never been disappointed with their food even though they are simple and no fancy items. Just plain, solid good breakfast place I love other than Talk of the town (Watertown), Mike's diner, Charlie in Southend, and Sound bite in Somerville.
Great little diner.
Yes, you may have to wait (it's small, what do you expect?), and the service can be a little spotty...but long lines and surly waitresses are both essential to the diner experience, no?
The prices are right - and the tunes are retrolicious.
Fanatastic milkshakes (mmm...Oreo) and omelettes (I prefer the "Gucci" with spinach, feta, cheddar, and onion) --- and my boyfriend always orders the "Detention" with heavenly steak tips (do they coat them in crack?! So addictive).
I try to wake up early and get there for brunch about once a month - it never disappoints!
This place is fun and adorable and delicious. If you like 80`s music, the movie The breakfast club and binge eating, you will love this place. I wish i had more reasons to come to Allston, just so I could be a regular at this place.
People thought this was:
Cool (1)
People Who Viewed This Also Viewed...
Related Lists
-
My Neighborhood
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,… -
A Epicurean Goodbye
So I'm preparing to finally move to the North… -
New England Diners,…
I love Diners. I miss the old style drive-ins.… -
If you want to lose a…
Why not take that sucky friend here? I guarantee… -
Capitan of Breakfast
Going out to breakfast is my weakness - let me… -
The Brunch List
I loooooove brunch. I like breakfast sometimes… -
My Neighborhood
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
